The 2008 annual statistical reports of the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) showed that in 2008, the PCUSA suffered the largest numerical and percentage net membership decline since the 1983 merger of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS) and the United Presbyterian Church (UPC). The PCUSA’s total membership declined by 69,381 to 2,140,165, representing a decline of 3.14 percent from the 2007 membership total.

PCUSA Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons issued a statement about the membership decline that concluded: “Presbyterians can be evangelists! But we often stumble over the words. Can we not challenge one another to be able to answer these basic questions — Why do I believe in God? Why do I go to church? Why do I go to that particular church?”

The PCUSA 2008 annual statistical reports additionally reflected a decline in total giving to the church at all levels of US$24,234,268 from the 2007 total of US$2,162,131,650, representing a decline in 2008 of 1.12 percent in total giving.+ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, 888-728-7228, Fax: 502-569-8005

The Layman Online reported in a 20 June 2009 article that the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) for the first time in the denomination’s history suffered a membership loss, from 345,582 members in 2007 to 340,852 members in 2008, representing a decline of 1.37 percent, or a loss of 4730 members.

Other PCAGA church statistical report data showed that adult baptisms fell 6.4 percent from 2007 to 2008, that Sunday school attendance fell 1.1 percent from 2007 to 2008; and that infant baptisms dropped 0.6 percent from 2007 to 2008.

Bradley in 1998 founded the PCA’s Southwest Church Planting Network to focus on the fast-growing Sunbelt region of the southwest United States. Bradley said that church members need to focus on growing the denomination numerically and urged every existing PCA church to plant a new one by 2020.

Outgoing GA Moderator Paul Kooistra warned in his 16 June 2009 evening sermon Tuesday that the PCA currently is at risk of being weakened by prideful infighting. Kooistra urged members to be more accepting of one another’s views, especially in what Kooistra described as non-essential issues, such as how to interpret the six-day creation described in Genesis 1.

The Worldwide Anglican Communion is divided over issues including homosexuality and scriptural authority, with TEC church leaders being more theologically and politically liberal than their overseas counterparts.

Institute on Religion and Democracy Director of Anglican Action Jeff Walton commented: “This new Anglican movement in North America is easily the largest North American denomination to come into existence since the 1970s. The ACNA is remarkable not because it is splitting off from an existing church, but because it is uniting multiple churches. After over 30 years of splintering, traditionalist Anglicans are setting aside many of their differences in order to pursue common mission. This is clearly not a schismatic quest for purity by a small group of discontents. Rather, it is a theologically diverse group that sees how much is held in common.”

After the National Organization for Women (NOW) announced plans to hold a counter demonstration during the 20 June 2009 prayer and memorial service in Wichita, Kansas for the family of slain abortionist George Tiller and the unborn children slain in his abortuary, the pro-life organizers of the memorial service moved the location of the event in order that the memorial service not be disrupted.

Representing the memorial service sponsors, Reformed Presbyterian pastor the Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Washington, D.C. based Christian Defense Coalition, commented: "It is shameful that the National Organization for Women would disrupt a prayer vigil and memorial service for women and children with a counter demonstration. It seems they are taking a page out of the playbook of hatemonger Fred Phelps with their disturbing actions. Our goal was simply to conduct a prayer vigil and memorial to remember and honor the 70 thousand innocent lives that were lost at Dr. Tiller's clinic and work for social justice and pray for an end to violence in Wichita. Sadly, NOW decided to show utter contempt for a religious and solemn service and decided to disrupt it. We are thankful that the pro-life community showed respect for Dr. Tiller and his family and chose not to disrupt or demonstrate at his memorial service."

RenewAmerica.com columnist Matt C. Abbott reports that Life Dynamics Incorporated (LDI) is a Texas-based prolife organization known for their work in exposing the marketing of aborted baby parts and abortion industry’s concealment of child rape. LDI has now produced a documentary film that shows the connection between slavery, racism, the American eugenics movement—of which Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger was an influential figure—Nazi Germany, and legalized abortion.LDI describes Maafa 21: “They were stolen from their homes, locked in chains and taken across an ocean….But when slavery ended, their welcome was over. America's wealthy elite had decided it was time for them to disappear….What you are about to see is that the plan these people set in motion 150 years ago is still being carried out today…”

Abbott concludes: “In addition to showing the follies of the once pro-life Jesse Jackson and the pro-abortion NAACP, the documentary points out that leaders of both the Democratic and Republican parties—the wealthy elites—have formed a "family planning cartel" that does not tolerate dissent when it comes to the issue of population control. And the words and/or actions of past U.S. presidents Lyndon Johnson, Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Bill Clinton illustrate that they were at least sympathetic to, if not outright supportive of, the eugenics movement and population control….The bottom line: It's utterly disgraceful that the monstrosity known as Planned Parenthood receives money—and a lot of it—from the U.S. government and various corporations.”

Lofton takes issue with O’Reilly’s oft-repeated statement that the 60 thousand abortions performed by slain abortionist George Tiller were “legal,” and for O’Reilly characterizing unborn children as “potential life.” Both of these statements are…egregiously and dangerously wrong, particularly from [O’Reilly] who purports to be a Christian. Tiller's killing by abortion of innocent human beings, in their earliest stage of development, was mass murder. Murder can never be "legal" because God's Law prohibits it. Thus, none of Tiller's abortions were "legal." To those who say Tiller's mass murders were "legal" because abortion has been made "legal" by various "laws" and/or court rulings, this assertion is also false. Man-made "laws" that contradict God's Law are not law. This is the teaching of the Bible, St. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, William Blackstone and Dr. Martin Luther King.”

Lofton quotes O’Reilly as saying, "The Constitution does give an American a right to an abortion," and Lofton responds: “I have no idea what makes him think this since such a "right" is not in the U.S. Constitution. I fear for our fetuses if the guardians of our fetuses are no more knowledgeable on the abortion topic than is Bill O'Reilly.”

The Catholic Action League of Massachusetts on 17 June 2009 revealed that the majority of hospital and healthcare network Caritas Christi's Board of Governors are major contributors to pro-abortion politicians, and that Caritas Christi is scheduled starting 1 July 2009 to begin including abortion and family planning services in its healthcare coverage benefits package.

Arches consulted the Church of Scotland (COS) about the nature of the performance, “and [the COS is] quite happy with it as long as there is no blasphemy….They think the body is a beautiful creation, and we’re celebrating it so they were fine with it.”

The "Pedophile Protection Act" makes "sexual orientation," "gender," and "gender identity," into federally-protected classes under the law, and codifies federal protection of up to 547 types of sexually deviant behaviors, including incest, necrophilia, pedophilia, zoophilia a.k.a. bestiality, voyeurism, and many other perversions.

A key danger of the bill to Christians is the legislation lays the legal foundation to investigate, prosecute and persecute pastors, youth pastors, Bible teachers, and anyone else whose speech and thought is based upon and reflects the truths found in the Bible.

Dearborn, Michigan is home to the largest concentration of Muslims in the United States, and for the past several years has held the annual Arab International street fair, which is open for free to the public and businesses along the streets remain open during the festival.

Members of the Arabic Christian Perspective (ACP), and Pastor George Saieg have attended the festival each year, where they hand out Christian literature along the public sidewalks to those attending the street fair, and the literature distribution has never caused a problem.

A paper on various aspects of the church and the surrounding area will be presented. A welcome is extended to any who would be interested in attending. A plate of food would be appreciated to help with catering.

The featured speaker is the Rev. Imre Bertalan, and his message will focus on church membership, retention, visitation, church growth, and the role of consistory, congregation, and church youth members.

For further information, please call Mr. John Evanko at 440-364-3410 or email at gratt67@oh.rr.com.